Denmark to Draft Women into Military in 2025 Amid Growing Russia Threat

Denmark will begin drafting women into its military starting next year, advancing reforms to strengthen its armed forces in response to growing security concerns, particularly from Russia, according to Bloomberg on March 26.

Currently, women can join the military voluntarily, while men are required to serve if selected through a lottery system designed to address potential shortages of volunteers.

The new plan, announced by Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen in Copenhagen on March 25, brings forward the timeline for compulsory military conscription for women by a year, following an agreement among a wide majority of parties in parliament.

Denmark follows Norway, which became the first NATO member to introduce a draft for women in 2015, and Sweden, which reinstated conscription in 2017, also expanding it to women.

In addition, Denmark’s defense ministry revealed plans to invest 12 billion kroner ($1.7 billion) to enhance its heavy brigade and potentially purchase two aerial refueling aircraft. The funding will come from the government’s acceleration fund, established last month to increase defense spending in response to escalating security threats from Russia.

Previously, it was reported that Denmark will invest €130 million ($140 million) in supporting its companies' investments in Ukrainian defense firms.